Another Disaster Declaration In Vermont: This Is A Cold One

Ash tree leaves in Huntington, Vermont killed by a May 18 freeze

All of Vermont was declared a disaster area on Friday. 

No, not that one. We're talking about the mid-May freeze that wrecked a lot of the state's agriculture way before the first drops of flooding rains fell at the beginning of this month. 

As WPTZ-TV reports, the disaster declaration from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture means eligible farmers can be considered for Farm Service Agency emergency loans to help them bounce back from the deep freeze that damaged a variety of crops on the night May 17-18.

"This declaration is important as our farmers try to recover after the May freeze,'" said Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts in a statement. "This designation will offer more resources to those that were hit hard by this weather event."

Farmers have eight months to apply for the emergency loans.  

Gov. Phil Scott is also seeking an agricultural disaster designation for this month's extensive flooding.

Under a separate Federal Emergency Management Agency umbrella, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, Orange, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties have all been declared disaster areas due to this month's flooding. .  More counties might be added to that disaster list.